The American University in Cairo

School of Science and Engineering

Department of Chemistry

CHEM 1005

Assignment # 3 Sunday April 26th - Wednesday April 29th Spring 2020

Please ANSWER the following five questions and SHOW your steps in details:

1- Draw the Lewis structure of (AsF4) -. Use this structure, in conjunction with VSEPR theory, to
predict:

a- The electron domain geometry of the molecule.

b- The molecular geometry (shape of the molecule).
c- The bond angles around the central atom.
d- The polarity of the molecule.
e- The type of hybridization of the central atom.

Solution:

Valence electrons = 5 + (4 x 7) + 1 = 34
Central atom: As (least electronegative)

a- Electron domain geometry: Trigonal bipyramidal

b- Molecular geometry: Seesaw
c- Bond angles around As: 186◦ and 116◦ (180◦ and 120◦ if all 5 domains are bonding)
d- The molecule is polar (having polar bonds with dipole moments that do not cancel each
other, and a lone pair on the central atom).
e- Hybridization of As: sp3d
2- For the following molecules, identify the shape and hybridization of atoms a-d:

Solution:

Atom Shape Hybridization

a Trigonal planar Sp2
b Tetrahedral Sp3
c Bent Sp3
d Tetrahedral Sp3

3- The nitrosonium ion, NO+, forms several interesting complexes with nickel, cobalt, and iron.
Using the Molecular Orbital Theory:

a- Draw the molecular orbital diagram of the molecule.

b- Identify the bond order of the molecule.
c- Describe the magnetic behavior of the molecule.

Solution:

a- Valence electrons = 5 + 6 -1 = 10 (Apply O diagram)

b- Bond order = (8 – 2) / 2 = 3
c- Diamagnetic, as electrons in the last molecular orbital are paired.
4- For the following molecules, determine which is polar and which is non-polar. Explain your
reasoning: SO2, SO3, SF4, and SF6.

Solution:

Valence
Molecule Lewis structure Polarity Reason
electrons

SO2 6 x 3 =18 Polar Asymmetrical molecule

- Symmetrical molecule.
- No lone pairs on the
SO3 6 x 4 = 24 Nonpolar
central atom.

- Asymmetrical molecule.
- Lone pair on the central
6 + (4 x 7) = molecule.
SF4 Polar
34 - Angles: 186◦ and 116◦ do
not cancel the dipole
moments of the bonds.

- Symmetrical molecule.
- No lone pairs on the
6 + (6 x 7) =
SF6 Nonpolar central atom.
48
- Bonds dipole moments
cancel each other.
5- For the molecule of HF:

a- Describe the type of orbital overlap according to the Valence Bond Theory.
b- Draw the bonding diagram, determine the bond order and magnetic behavior using The
Molecular Orbital Theory.

Solution:

a- H-F Single bond: Sigma, 1s-2p head to head overlap along the internuclear axis.
b- Valence electrons = 1 + 7 = 8
Interaction occurs betweeen 1s orbital of H and 2p orbital of F. Atomic orbitals of the
subshells with single electron form the molecular orbital.

Bond order = (2 - 0) / 2 = 1
Diamagnetic: as electrons in the last orbital are unpaired.